Weedman: I am conviction proof' as jury is picked

MOUNT HOLLY — The famous “Weedman NJ” has little to worry about in his upcoming trial, it would seem. He says he’s “conviction proof.”

A jury was finally selected before Burlington County Superior Court Judge Charles Delehey in the case of defendant Ed Forchion, who has been on a long quest to smack down New Jersey’s laws against marijuana.

Eleven women and three men (two alternates) were chosen to decide, simply, if Forchion was caught holding more than a pound of pot on April Fool’s Day in 2010.

Forchion wants the jury to simply toss the charge, nullify the law, as he has been arguing before courts in Jersey for more than decade. Forchion told The Trentonian after jury selection he thinks up to six of them might vote to acquit. He’s already hung one jury on these same charges.

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“I’m the victim in this case,” the dreadlocked and bearded Forchion told the larger jury pool during the courtroom’s introductions.

“This is not the time for arguments, Mr. Forchion,” Delehey cut him off.

After court was over for the day, Forchion later added “I am very, very confident to the point that I am conviction proof. There’s no way the prosecutor is going to get 12 people to convict me.”

In addition to the usual questions about ties to cops and crimes, the judge asked jurors if their thinking would be influenced by Forchion’s permission to use and deal pot in California and his Rastafarian religion, which uses marijuana in its rites.

The judge noted that 35 prospective jurors were excused, some after saying they had little tolerance for drugs and others after admitting they’d like to see reform of the law.

The trial is set to start Tuesday morning, and the judge said he expects it to take three days.